New Delhi: Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh chaired the fifth meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on West Asia at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi. The meeting reviewed the latest developments in the conflict and discussed measures to strengthen India’s preparedness and minimise its impact on the public.
Union Ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda, Hardeep Singh Puri, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kiren Rijiju, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr Jitendra Singh attended the meeting. The IGoM was informed that the country remains secure and there is no shortage of petroleum products. India currently has 60 days of crude oil reserves, 60 days of natural gas reserves, and 45 days of LPG rolling stock. Foreign exchange reserves stand at a comfortable $703 billion.
India, the world’s third-largest oil refiner and fourth-largest exporter of petroleum products, continues to meet domestic demand fully while exporting to over 150 countries. However, the Government noted that the country is bearing a significant burden due to persistently high international crude oil prices, and fuel conservation can help reduce this pressure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to citizens to conserve fuel, use public transport, avoid unnecessary foreign travel, promote domestic tourism, and reduce non-essential spending in order to help the nation tackle global economic disruptions and supply chain challenges.
The Ministers were informed that essential commodities remain available in surplus and that current conservation measures are intended for long-term capacity building in case the crisis continues. People were advised not to panic or resort to excessive purchasing of fuel and other commodities. Rajnath Singh directed officials to implement the Prime Minister’s appeal effectively at the ground level. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts by Ministries and States to promote fuel efficiency, public awareness, and responsible consumption behaviour.
In a post on X after the meeting, the Defence Minister urged citizens to remain calm, assuring them that all necessary measures are being taken to prevent shortages or disruptions in supply chains. Rajnath Singh emphasised that India’s primary focus during the current situation is to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies, maintain economic stability, and secure maritime trade routes. He also called for accelerating the transition towards renewable energy, diversifying energy sources, increasing investment in energy-efficient technologies, and reassessing strategic reserves to strengthen future energy security.
He further stressed that the West Asia conflict should not be viewed in isolation, as global crises affect all nations in an interconnected world. He underlined the need for strategic crisis anticipation, early warning assessment, scenario planning, and timely whole-of-government preparedness. The meeting was also informed about recent policy measures to support industries, including MSMEs. The Union Cabinet recently approved the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 with an additional credit flow target of Rs 2.55 lakh crore to provide credit guarantee support for MSMEs, non-MSMEs, and the airline sector.
Additionally, the Ministry of Finance introduced force majeure-related relief measures in public procurement contracts, allowing performance deadlines to be extended by two to four months from February 28, 2026, in view of the ongoing crisis. The IGoM was informed that fertiliser availability remains robust, with stocks significantly higher than last year. For Kharif 2026, fertiliser stocks currently stand at over 51 per cent of the assessed requirement, reflecting improved planning, advance stocking, and efficient logistics management by the government.
